Novak Djokovic: unexpected shot at ATP Finals evolves

Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic has been handed a boost in a bid to qualify for the ATP Finals this year. The 37-year-old is regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic has been handed a big boost in his bid to qualify for the last major event in men’s tennis this year. Currently, the seven-time ATP Finals winner is sitting in the 9th spot in the race to cement a spot in the mega-event, which will be played in November, which means that he does have his destiny in his own hands. However, a result in the Japan Open has given him a lifeline.

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In the ongoing competition in Tokyo, American tennis star Taylor Fritz, who was coming into the competition after having an impressive outing in the recently concluded US Open, where he finished as the runner-up after losing in the final to world number one Italy’s Jannik Sinner in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, lost in the opening round of the competition to France’s Arthur Fils with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Thursday.

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That defeat has given Djokovic a chance to close the gap on the 26-year-old who is currently sitting in the fifth spot in the race to secure a berth in the ATP Finals this year. Djokovic is now set to feature in the Shanghai Masters and then the Paris Masters where he will have to produce some impressive performances if he wants to play in the mega-event in Turin. Earlier this year, the former world number one announced that his main focus now is to play in the Grand Slams and Davis Cup.

“As far as I am concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career,” he said back then. “Whether I will play in other tournaments this year or in the future, I can’t say right now. My main priorities are playing for the national team and Slams, everything else is less important.”